Wales Women endured a nightmare start to their Six Nations campaign on Saturday night, drawing a blank against semi-professional outfit France in a 53-0 thrashing.
The opening weekend of the standalone Women's Six Nations saw plenty of tries and attacking rugby, but France's dominant scoreline plus England's 52-10 win over Scotland highlighted the gulf between sides competing in the same tournament.
England are the only professional team in the championship, with France semi-pro. Everyone else is amateur, so are limited in their preparation before they even step on the pitch.
France's Caroline Boujard score an early hat-trick of tries inside the opening 20 minutes, with Les Bleus scoring eight tries in total against the Welsh in Vannes.
The Montpellier winger set the tone when she went over after only two minutes, with Pauline Bourdon successfully converting all of her team-mate's early scores as well as slotting over a penalty to put France 24-0 ahead.
Agathe Sochat added another converted try before half-time as the hosts went into the interval leading 31-0.
Emeline Gros crossed for another two tries in the second half before Emilie Boulard and Laure Touye scored late on to complete France's comprehensive victory. Bourdon had added 13 points in total with the boot.
Warren Abrahams' Wales side will now regroup for their second Pool B match at home against Ireland next weekend, with France set for a rest weekend ahead of their match in Donnybrook on April 17.
It will be a night to forget for Wales and head coach Abrahams after his first game in charge, who endured a disappointing start after pre-match talk of a new brand of attacking rugby.
Captain Siwan Lillicrap led the front, Hannah Jones impressed defensively while Jasmine Joyce enjoyed a small consolation when successfully charging down what should have been a straightforward French kick through the posts. Wales also defended well in the final 10 minutes by holding up over the line.
New caps scrum-halves Jess Roberts and Megan Davies and prop Donna Rose endured a tough start to Test rugby, but Abrahams says he will now go back to the drawing board.
"The French played some pretty incredible stuff and we congratulate them for that," he said post-match.
"There were some incredible moments for us, but also some lessons to be learned. If we want to compete against the best teams in the world then we have got to go back to the drawing board and step things up, but the effort and attitude was outstanding.
"We knew France were going to be tough because they have proven themselves over a number of years. The squad is in a great place. We know where we are in our journey and we will keep building."
Captain Lillicrap added: "There was plenty of spirit, effort and positive attitude, but it was a difficult evening. What we must do now is trust the process and our systems and take a look at ourselves.
"That type of scoreline is tough to accept, and there is no hiding from that. There is a lot of emotion in the squad.
"We have to trust in what Warren (Abrahams) and the management are trying to bring in because it is exciting and it is a change.
"Things don’t happen overnight and we will learn from this and take a good honest look in the mirror and fix things.
"We have got to front up and get a platform to give ourselves some opportunities to attack against Ireland.
“The positive thing is we saw glimpses of that, but the challenge is to find a way to move forward and be consistent with it.
"Things don’t change overnight, just look at the men’s team this year from last. We have to trust what Warren is bringing to the squad and buy into it because it is a fresh style.
"Things have been hard with the pandemic, but the unity and culture within the squad, and how close we are as a group of players, is like never before.
"It is so important we stick together and keep fighting and believing so we can see a change.
"We didn’t want a score like that and there is nobody more gutted than us. We will take a long, hard look at ourselves and we will be back fighting, I can assure you of that."
The result in France followed an emphatic England win in Doncaster over the Scots, where the Red Roses ran in eight tries at Castle Park, with sisters Poppy and Bryony Cleall both scoring in a dominant display.
In the 10th minute, Marlie Packer scored the first tr, and Leanne Riley, Lark Davies, Bryony Cleall and winger Jess Breach, with a fine individual effort, all added further scores ahead of half-time as England secured a bonus point to lead 33-3.
Helena Rowland also went over before Scotland scored their first try of the championship through Hannah Smith in the 54th minute before England then had hooker Davies sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle.
Scotland replacement Molly Wright was shown a red card just after the hour following a dangerous tackle which was picked up by the TMO.
England took full advantage as number eight Poppy Cleall charged over before a late penalty try wrapped up the convincing victory.
